Correct. gold as a reserve asset is valuable when all other currencies go to crap. Vlad can't get hold of any new dollars so he has only a few options left. 1) Sell anything not bolted down that can raise $ i.e. commodities such as Oil and Nickel, 2) buy more gold with roubles to protect against falling rouble, which can then be levered to pay army/govt etc, 3) war and subsequent theft AKA Third Reich stuff.
The way I see it, options 1 & 2 will be used before the option is resorted to. Don't forget winter is coming up in Europe. If he turns the gas taps off, we might have a few issues...
